Improved means of raising jrtonitor-turrets by hydraulic pressure



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SE'IHYILMARTH, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS lMPROVED MEANS OF RAlSlNG lflONlTOR-TURRETS BY HYDRAULIC PRESSURE.

Specilication forming pari n mit. "s lntent No. 51,378, dated December' 5, 1865,

To all wil/om 'it may concern:

Be it known 'that I, SE'rH WILMAR'rn, ot' Boston, in the county of Suffolk and `State ot' lllassachusetts, have invented a Method ot' l-taising the rllurrcts ot' Iron-Clad or \Vooden Vessels by Hydraulic Pressure, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description,

reference bein had to the accompanyi'n g draw ings, making` part of this specification, in which v y Figure l is a central longitudinal section through the step in which the turret-shalt revolves, together with the hydraulic apparatus t'or raising the shaft, the lower end oi' which is shown' in elevation. Fig. '2 is a planet' the same.

The ordinary device employed in raising the turrets ol' monitors or other iron-clad or wooden vessels when they are required to be revolved is that ol' a wedge operated b v a screw. The removal of this wedge when the turret is to be lowered is attended with very great labor and inconii'enieuce, and causes the turret to i'all so suddenly is to occasion very considerable liarring or concussion ou the decks and surrounding parts.

To overcome these diliiculties is thc object ot' my invention, which consists in theapplication of hydraulic pressure to the turret, either at the step or foot ot' the shaft upon which the turret, revolves, or elsewhere, whereby-I am enabled to raise or lower the turret unit'orinly in an expeditious manner, without the possibility ofjarring or straining the parts in connection therewith.

.To enable others skilled in the art to under` stand and use my invention, l will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.

.le the said drawings, A is the step in which revolves the turret-shat B. The step A is made in two pieces, c Z1, Fig. l, so as to allow ot' raising the upper piece, a, for thepurpose of adjustin the packiu g o. the turret-shaft- B restsupon a disk, C, ot" brass, which is turned down so as to leave a space or chamber, d, into which oil or other liquid is forced, in a manner presenti yeto be described. The packing c is held in place by means of a metallic ring,l),whicli lits over the lower portion'of the disk C, as seen in Fig. l,.the packing c extending below the ring, and being pressed forcibly, by the liquid in the chamber ci, against the inside of the step A, thus forml The lower end of' ing a perfectly tight joint. A packing, @,is also interposed between the pieces a and b or' the step A\ to prevent the escape of the liquid in this direction. fis a passage connecting witha hydraulic pump, E, which is provided with a pistou, g, and valves h i, ot' t-he ordinary construction, and is supplied through the suc tion-pipe), which leads to a cistern con-taining the liquid to be employed.

On operating thepump E, the liquid is drawn up through the pipe j, and forced through the passage f .into the chamber d, raising the disk O and Withit the turretshaft- B, whichcan then be revolved as required.

7; isa passage seen dotted in Fig. 2) leading from the chamber d to the discharge-pipe l throughav'hich the liquid in the hamber d is,V

allowed to escape by turning the stop-cock m, Awhen it is desired to lower the turret-shaft B, which is thus effected gradually and without any sudden jar. p

Instead ot' the turret-shaft resting on a disk, C, as shown, the disk may be dispensed with, and the lower end ot' the turret-shaft turned down-and provided with'packing, in a similar manner to the disk. The method tirst .described, however, is that which I prefer.

The abovedescribed apparatus is of simple construction, and may be easily and rapidly operated by one man, while the jarring and concussion heretofore experienced is entirely avoided. Y

lVhen greatI dispatch is required, one or more additional pumps may be employed, having a piston or pistons ot greater diameter, the larger pump or pumps being used until the pressure is too great, when the operation may be completed by working the smaller pump E.

What l claim as my invention', and desire to' secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. Raising the turrets of iron-clad or wooden vessels by means of hydraulic pressure, sub stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. Packing the foot ct the turret-shaft B by means of the disk G, packin g-riu g D, and packing c, in combination with thehydraulic pump E, inle't-passagej', and outlet-passage 7.', oper,-

ating substantially as described SETH WIL'MARTH'.

Witnesses l. ETEscHEMAcHEc, N. W. SrEARNs. 

